World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 every year. Diabetes is one of the major global concern, which is now turning into an epidemic with more than 463 million adults affected by diabetes.
Diabetes is one of the major global concern, which is now turning into an epidemic with more than 463 million adults affected by diabetes. It has nearly quadrupled since past two decades, growing from 4.7% to 8.5%. According to experts, it is sharply rising in rural and urban India due to change in lifestyle and eating habits. Diabetes is also a major cause of chronic diseases like blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. So, there is an immediate need to pay attention to the growing concerns about the health threats posed by this. On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2021 we would like to share inputs from experts and doctors –
Dr. A Ramachandran, President, India Diabetes Research Foundation, & Chairman, Dr. A. Ramachandran’s Diabetes Hospitals Chennai
Diabetes affects 74 million people in India thereby making our country the ‘Diabetes Capital’ of the world. On an average, diabetes reduces life expectancy by 4-10 years increasing the risk of death due to other co-morbidities associated with diabetes. These co-morbidities include heart attacks, kidney failures and infections. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the vulnerability of people with diabetes. People with diabetes are at an increased risk of COVID-19 and death especially those with those suffering from diabetes-related complications. The risk is also enhanced due to social conditions in disadvantaged communities who have minimal access to healthcare. In India, the first step to breaking these barriers is to make healthcare accessible and affordable for the general population. Along with this, we must educate people about managing their diabetes on a day-to-day basis.
Dr. CH Vasanth Kumar, Senior Consultant Physician at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad
According to the ninth edition of International Diabetes Federation’s ‘Diabetes Atlas’, nearly 134.3 million people in India are expected to have diabetes. It also highlights the fact that there is an alarming increase in cases of diabetes among children and senior citizens. Diabetes complications are looming large with one out of every ten adults being diagnosed with diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in blood, the lack of insulin causes diabetes. So, it is important to make people aware about the importance of insulin therapy during diabetes treatment. Insulin therapy helps prevent diabetes complications by keeping your blood sugar within your target range.
Dr. C. S. Yajnik, Director of the Diabetes Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Research Centre in Pune
With 77 million people living with diabetes, India is close to becoming diabetes capital of the world. How did we manage to do this while struggling to treat undernutrition?
Diabetes is brought on by unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and stress in people who are predisposed. Predisposition can be partly genetic for which there is no treatment. Recent research has shown that predisposition can also come from undernutrition when growing in the mother’s womb or pregnancy diabetes. These two conditions are in plenty in India, and may be prevented or treated effectively. If we improve the nutrition and metabolism of the young, it will benefit not only them but also their children. This will fulfill the dream of ‘Swastha Bharat’. On the World Diabetes Day which is also the Children’s Day, let us pledge to improve the health of the young.
Dr. Sushil Jindal, eminent Endocrinologist and Diabetologist of Central India
“India ranks second for the highest diabetic population in the world, with one in every six diabetics in the world being an Indian. It is one of the very few metabolic diseases which can affect nearly every organ system in the body. As the these numbers continue to increase, it is has become extremely important to ensure an efficient public healthcare system in India. Targeting the right people at the right time with the right course of treatment, we can prevent at least a third of people from developing severe complications from the disease. One important aspect that could help realise the superior level of patient-care is the easy availability of health records. Digital solutions, such as HealthPlix’s AI-powered EMR software, give clinicians a longitudinal view of patient health information, ensuring continuity of care for chronic conditions such as T2DM. I think that with the correct use of such digital technologies, we will be able to not only develop a deeper connection with our patients, but also drive better health outcomes for conditions like diabetes, which require continual monitoring, by giving treatment anywhere, at any time.’’
